At the beginning of June, the Tang army took Yiwu as the center, and the troops advanced westward in two ways, one with the general Li Zhiyuan leading 20,000 people along the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains to march to Jinman, which is Tingzhou, the location of the Beiting Protectorate, and the other 50,000 troops led by Zhang Huan himself, marched to Gaochang along the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, and captured Gaochang to choke the road for the Hui army to return north.

Gaochang is today's Turpan area, Tang Taizong Zhenguan nine years, because the king of Shule sent envoys to Beijing three times to request to belong to the Tang Dynasty, which prompted Tang Taizong Li Shimin to resolutely resolve to set up the capital in Anxi, Zhenguan 14 years, Li Shimin sent troops to Anxi, and occupied Gaochang that year, set up the Anxi capital protectorate, and Qiao Shiwang as the first protector, two years later, the second Anxi capital protector Guo Xiaoke attacked Yanqi in the south, broke the Turks in the north, and gained a foothold in the east and north of the Tianshan Mountains, and the Western Turkic army was forced to retreat to the south of the Tianshan Mountains to hold on to the sidelines.

After seven years of painstaking management, the Tang army made persistent efforts, and recaptured Qiuci, Shule, Khotan and other places from the Turkic soldiers in one go, the Turkic army surrendered, and the lost land south of the Tianshan Mountains was recovered by the Tang Dynasty

About 150 years have passed since the ring of time, and when the Tang army once again set foot on this land that once recorded the glorious history of the Tang Dynasty, countless Tang soldiers couldn't help but cry.

This day was the tenth day of the sixth month, and Zhang Huan led 50,000 Tang troops to set off again after a short repair in Puchang County. Marching towards Gaochang.

The southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains is a rich and beautiful land, where abundant iceberg meltwater brings a steady stream of life to this thirsty land, and oases seem to be scattered among the pearls of the world in the desert and the Gobi.

Zhang Huan rode on his horse, intently looking at the sapphire-like ice peaks in the distance, shining magnificently in the reflection of the morning glow, and not far ahead was an unknown small river, the water was turbulent, and the clear and sweet river water still carried the slightest chill of the snow-capped mountains, meandering and flowing southward. On both sides of the river are large expanses of plump and tender meadows, blooming with colorful wildflowers gently swaying in the wind.

"The army rests for half an hour!" Zhang Huan gave an order, and the soldiers of the Tang Army, who had marched all night, were thunderous with joy, and they dismounted and rushed to the river to wash their faces and drink, and even jumped into the river, so that the cold river water drove away the heat and washed away the fatigue of their bodies. The two rivers of the river were suddenly crowded with black-pressed Tang army soldiers and horses.

Zhang Huan was also a little exhausted, he turned over and dismounted, walked to a big rock and sat down. Soon, the soldiers brought him a jug of water from upstream, and he took a sip. The water is sweet, and there is a hint of the unique fragrance of meadow wildflowers.

He took a bite of dried steamed buns with water, and when he saw that the eyes of the soldiers were red, he waved his hand and smiled: "You all go and rest!" ”

The soldiers ran to the river, Zhang Huan was clean, and simply lay down, under him was a soft grass, exuding bursts of fragrance. He was so comfortable that he almost groaned.

Suddenly, a grasshopper jumped on his nose, Zhang Huan reached out to catch it, pinched the back of this little thing, and saw that this grasshopper seemed to be embarrassed, he couldn't help but feel childlike, and played with its lower abdomen with his hand and smiled: "Do you think you are Jiegangas?" Dare to jump on my nose and go wild. ”

"Ahem! Cough! Suddenly there was a coughing sound from the side. Zhang Huan immediately sat up. Seeing that it was his marching Sima Guo Shiqi, he was looking at him with some embarrassment. Zhang Huan let go of the grasshopper in his hand and smiled: "Why doesn't Mr. Guo rest for a while?" ”

Guo Shiqi is a native of Jingzhaohua County, Qingzhi three years of Jinshi was born, once served as the chief secretary of Xiangwu County, Longxi County, was dismissed for offending the Wei family, and then has been traveling around the Western Regions, three years ago to Bai Guangyuan Mansion as a Qing guest, because of his good planning and was recommended to Zhang Huan by Bai Guangyuan, first as the deputy of Sima Luo Guangping of the Xiliang Army, with the growth of the Xiliang Army, he was transferred to Hexi, did the Sima of the Hexi Army, and was in charge of the money and grain in the army, won Zhang Huan's appreciation, and simply took him to Gaochang, ready to order him to take over the city.

He stepped forward and saluted, "My subordinates have some ideas and want to report to the governor." ”

"Come on! Sit down and talk. ”

Zhang Huan patted Dashi and invited him to sit down, "Say it!" What do you want to tell me? ”

Guo Shiqi sat down with half of his body leaned and muttered, "My subordinates are a little worried about Tingzhou's side. ”

Zhang Huan's smile disappeared, and he looked at Guo Shiqi solemnly and said, "Mr. Guo, please speak directly." ”

Sighing, Guo Shiqi finally expressed the worry in his heart, "The subordinates are worried about the Qarlu people, Hui Hui goes south, the north court is empty, will they also take advantage of the weakness, if Li Zhiyuan is not prepared, it is likely that he will be attacked by the Qarlu people." ”

Guo Shiqi reminded Zhang Huan that although the Qarlu people were scared back to their nest by the Hui people, but under the national policy of the Hui people going west, how could they not find a way out, and this nation has always been a treacherous despicable person in the eyes of the Tang people, the battle between the Tang Dynasty and the Great Food was because of the betrayal of the Qarlu people that led to the defeat of the Tang army. If it had happened, it had already happened, and in order not to affect morale, the Qarluqs had to be let go for the first time.

Thinking of this, Zhang Huan said decisively: "Now we are less than 100 miles away from Gaochang, but we are thousands of miles away from Jinman. ”

He stood up and immediately ordered: "The rest time has come, order the army to set off immediately, march to Gaochang, and we will enter Gaochang City to rest before dark." ”

The soldiers packed up their horses, the army was activated, and the invisible procession marched westward.

On June 12, the Tang army of 50,000 troops approached the city of Gaochang, and the 1,000 Hui troops stationed in Gaochang surrendered to the Tang army.

Just as Guo Shiqi worried, just when Zhang Huan was still two days away from Gaochang, the vanguard of the Tang Army on the North Road who marched into Jinman was attacked by the Qarlu people in Puzhi County, and nearly half of the 5,000 Tang Army suffered casualties, and returned with a crushing defeat, which was the first defeat suffered by the Tang Army in the Western Regions.

On June 14, several fast horses galloped into Gaochang City

Zhang Huan's marshal mansion is located in the old palace of Gaochang Kingdom, when was it, the old country of Gaochang has disappeared, the royal family has become a commoner, the palace has become an inn, here has become a book that records the interests of the world's forces, the Tang Dynasty is gone, Tubo is coming, Tubo is going, Hui is coming, coming and going, in this old palace is full of the bright moon of the Tang Dynasty and the stars of Huma.

The war horse that reported the news stopped in front of the palace, and a captain turned over and dismounted, galloped up the steps and took out a letter and said to the guard: "Please report to the governor, General Li has sent us a big event to report!" Seeing the urgency of the situation, the guards did not dare to delay, and immediately turned around and ran into the palace.

Zhang Huan is not used to living in this exotic palace, not only that it is too old, the golden splendor of the past has been mottled and faded, but in these halls are full of too much killing history, the large black blood stains on the wall that have not been brushed away are shocking, although he has seen countless deaths, but the depression brought by this palace still makes him irritable, especially at night, his side seems to be full of crying and pleading of unjust souls, waking up is an endless loneliness, It's like waking up on Chinese New Year's Eve and facing a long night.

He had only been here for three days, and at this moment he was packing his bags and preparing to return to the barracks tent, when the sound of a hurried run came from outside the hall, echoing in the empty hall.

Zhang Huan stood up straight, with a sense of foreboding in his heart.

"Governor, General Li Zhiyuan is in a hurry." The soldiers ran into the room and handed the letter to Zhang Huan.

Without reading the letter, Zhang Huan already understood that it was probably what Guo Shiqi said, and sure enough, the letter directly explained at the beginning that the vanguard of the Tang Army encountered the black hands of the Qarluq people in Puzhi County, killing and wounding more than 2,000 people.

But the more he looked down, the more serious Zhang Huan's expression became, and finally he accepted the letter and slowly walked into the courtyard.

Fifty thousand Qarluq troops, things are much more serious than he thought, a few days to occupy the vast area north of the Tianshan Mountains, in the chaotic Anxi situation to intervene, this is the Qarluq people poured out of the nest, Zhang Huan suddenly realized that at this time the Qarluq people are no longer the Tubo people to support and disturb the rear of the Hui dog, it has evolved into a wolf, become the fourth player in the Anxi chess game, if you are a little careless, it is very likely to be bitten by this wolf, so as to hate out of the game of Anxi, Zhang Huan's brows furrowed, and the sudden turn of events disrupted his Anxi plan.

Engagement, this is already no other choice, Zhang Huan pondered for a moment and resolutely decided to adjust his strategy, temporarily abandon the plan to go south, and concentrate his forces against the Qarluqs.

He turned around and ordered: "Pass my order, immediately send 800 li to Longyou, and order Hu Yong to increase the number of troops to Xingxing Gorge by another 50,000." ”

After taking two steps, he then ordered: "Order Liu Shuai to lead 3,000 troops to defend Gaochang, Yang Qi to defend Puchang with 2,000 troops, and the rest of the army immediately raise troops and return to Yiwu." ”